The Kahoks shot ahead 10-5 in the first game and maintained their energy the rest of the way. Alton regrouped to gain an 8-6 advantage in the second game, but Collinsville used a 14-9 spurt to shoot in front 20-15. The Redbirds closed to within 23-21, but the Kahoks refused to relinquish the lead.

“I knew it was going to be a tough match because Collinsville plays a tough schedule and they are better than their record indicates,” Carter said. “Then they got some momentum going and that made a difference.

“But we didn’t give up or die,” he added.

Brittney Twichell and Andrea McPike each accounted for five kills to pace the Redbirds. Yet they had no answer for Wethers.

“She has a lot of potential and we did a great job setting for her,” Plagemann said.

In the opener, Kayla Fitterer and Megan Sharpe spurred the Tigers in their second lopsided victory over the Warriors. Fitterer furnished nine skills, while Sharpe supplied six kills and four aces.

Edwardsville went on a 9-0 run early in the first game and continued its momentum the rest of the way. The Tigers accumulated 23 kills, accounting for nearly half of their points.

“It’s the postseason so you want to come out strong every game and step up your play,” Fitterer said. “You can’t take any team for granted in the playoffs.”

Parker added, “We took care of what we needed to do.”

Granite City coach Stephanie Burgess said Edwardsville, the two-time conference champ, is playing near the top of its game.

“It’s not just one player that’s phenomenal for them,” she said. “They have a whole arsenal of them.”

The Tigers, needing four wins to tie the school record – they were 33-4 last year — are succeeding without sophomore starter Maddie Croft. She’s sidelined with a fractured left foot. Croft is the team’s leading blocker.

“Maddie has been out for more than a week,” Parker said. “We’ve had to move some players around and change some of the things we are doing.”